New Jersey Devils: 5 Trade Targets Who Could Turn This Ship Around

Jakob Chychrun

The New Jersey Devils’ left-handed defensemen have struggled to generate and produce any offense. Ryan Graves and Brendan Smith in particular have really struggled so far this season at both ends of the ice, while Jonas Siegenthaler is strictly the thunder to Dougie Hamilton’s lightning.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is an elite two-way defender who can contribute a great deal of offense, but that offense really bottomed out in 2021-22 when he had his lowest goals and points totals since 2018-19. Chychrun has also struggled mightily to stay healthy, playing fewer than 60 games in 4 of 6 NHL seasons. He’s also never played more than 70 games in any season.

However, some of that could be Chychrun’s own doing – perhaps not playing through minor injuries or putting forth his best effort for the team. The Boca Raton native has long sought a trade away from Arizona and has been frequently mentioned as a trade option for playoff teams, but no such move has come to fruition yet.

At his best, Chychrun is an elite play-driver and point producer and could do some excellent work with a puck mover like Damon Severson or John Marino.

Like teammate Lawson Crouse, Chychrun is also moving past the Coyotes’ rebuild and will be 25 before the end of the season. At this point in time, considering the state of the Coyotes as a franchise and Chychrun’s perpetuated desire to leave, it shouldn’t take much at all to prise the star defender from the desert.